St Patrick's Day! You couldn't miss it, at the Moon and Sixpence pub in Hatch End. Photo from Josie, the pub manager.
I had to be in Watford for a Toastmasters International area competition. Before the doors opened, we met up at another pub, the Ember Inn. Inside I saw a hat.
Angela amused by the Guinness green-brimmed hat for Patrick's weekend. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Problem
It's St Patrick's Day. Where can I celebrate? Why do we celebrate? When should we celebrate?
Answers
If you can't get to Ireland, you can celebrate St Patrick's all over the world because pubs worldwide are promoting St Patrick's and Guinness, all weekend. Commercialism is so strong that just as you can celebrate Christmas without being Christian, you can celebrate St Patrick's without being Irish.
UK
Essex Arms, Watford's Hats
St Patrick's Day is March 17th, Saturday in 2018, but the staff at the Essex Arms in Watford, London, England, told me the pub is celebrating St Patrick's Day 'until Monday'.
They had hats for St Patrick's weekend, promoting Guinness, which is made in Ireland.
Door Display At Moon & Sixpence, Hatch End
In Hatch End, north London, England, a wonderful display of green and white balloons was across the doorway of the Moon & Sixpence pub on the Uxbridge Road which runs through Hatch End.
Beautiful ballons, in green, white and orange, around the doorway to the Moon and Sixpence pub in Hatch End. Photo from the pub manager, Josie.
Bunting and balloons and flags celebrating St Patrick's day at the ever popular Moon and Sixpence pub, in Hatch End. Photo courtesy of pub manager, Josie.
The balloons all got popped on Saturday night, said shift leader, Ellen. But she and the pub manager, Josie, took photos. The moral is, save some balloons!
So, your next chance to see the Patrick's Day display is next year.
The hat sat at the Essex arms in Watford, England. Photo by Angela Lansbury, copyright.
The front of the hat shown here says: Guinness, good time with Guinness. Only when I looked at my two pictures, on Sunday, did I realise that the hat has two different messages, on the front and the back. This picture shows one message. Look back at the picture of me wearing the hat and you will see the other message.
Essex Inn is part of Emberinns.co.uk
If you looked earlier, you will see a typo Embersinns! For my sins, I have now corrected it.
Speaking of Guinness, how about to trip to see Guinness in Dublin, Ireland.
IRELAND
The Guinness Storehouse is open for visits seven days a week, all year except Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day - check their website for the latest details or times and prices.
SINGAPORE
Singapore celebrated with a street parade. Since Singapore is about 7 or 8 hours ahead of the UK, depending on whether it's summer or winter time in the UK, and more hours ahead of the USA, you can see their entire day's celebrations on line when you are still enjoying the day in the UK.
Useful Addresses:
Moon and Sixpence
Uxbridge
Hatch End
Pinner
Middlesex
England
Essex Inn
Watford
England
Guinness Storehouse
Dublin
Guinness Storehouse, Dublin. Photo promoting visits, from Guinness, Ireland.
St Patrick Information
Explains St Patrick and the shamrock symbol for St Patrick's day.
Visits
Pubs worldwide.
UK
UK Pubs
IRELAND
Useful websites:
Official Republic of Ireland website
Tickets to visit Guinness
SINGAPORE
St Patrick's Day Offers
Trace your Irish ancestors through
ancestry.com
Special offer ends Monday March 19 2018 11.59 p.m. ET (USA Eastern time)
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. See my other posts on Ireland, UK, Singapore, USA and visits worldwide. Please share links to your favourite posts.
